Casually, I enter the pub, my ears hearing the cheering roar of the tavern folk chatting, cheering having a grand old time. My blues catch the chargers as I sit down by Bull who sits down, next to the grinning Sera and grumbling Blackwall, most likely teasing the warrior for his crush on the fair Josephine, sort of like a knight and princess, it's almost pitiful but still hilarious. Casually, I sit down with the group and simply start chatting about the chargers, fights ready and gossip.
"You gave her flowers? Atta boy!" Bull encourages the blushing mess.
"Alright, alright, so what if I did, it has nothing to do with you lot, Blackwall grumbles.
"Technically it does, I shrug.
"How so?" Blackwall frowns.
"You're our comrade your work could get worse from your rejected feelings or Josephine could feel distracted and her work would be worse," I bring up evenly stunning the group.
"Bloody hell," Blackwall curses in defeat.
"You gave her flowers?" Bull chuckles.
"Yeah what of it?" Blackwall frowns.
"That's a bit…cliché isn't it?" Bull glances at me and I simply nod.
"Sometimes the most cliché and simplest things can mean a lot to someone," I shrug, remembering my brother's fondness for Hawke's red scarf I never understood why but never questioned it.
"She seems like the type to read romance novels and most girls do, what do you look for?" Bull questions curious as I note Sera and Blackwall leaning in intrigued.
"Knives? Honey? Bees? Maybe some toys," Giggling, Sera snickers excited as I roll my eyes at the objects the girl is fond of.
"No, maybe wine," I shrug not sure what to answer.
"You seem like the sentimental type to me," Blackwell brings up making me raise a brow at the idea.
"Do I? I don't have much to be sentiment about," I questions surprised.
"Yeah but you're shy about it…" Blackwall continues.
"Shove off," I scoff at the thought, dismissing the idea.
"I'm right aren't I?" Blackwall grins.
"I don't know never really been given gifts before, I mean Hawke did it was weird though," I mutter recalling her fondness of giving us gifts.
"What about on your birthdays?" Sera questions.
"Don't know never had one…" I respond.
"Wait…what!?" Sera and Blackwall blinks surprised.
"Never had a birthday…I don't even know when I was born I barely know my age. I simply used to ask Fen and he would give me an estimate," I explain.
"An estimate!?" Sera gawks.
"Bull probably doesn't either," I defend myself.
"Well the chargers try too," Bull defends himself.
"That's…that's sad…" Sera and Blackwall shake their head at me while I roll my eyes at the nuisance of the day of people faking joy at a day for me and secretly celebrating myself, growing closer and closer to my demise…
"I don't think it is but anyway, I'll get you a pint on the house, to Blackwall and his love of ruffles underneath!" Loudly, I roar hearing the heavy slam of the pint placed before me as I raise my mug, everyone in the tavern following after my cheer as Sera, Bull and I snicker, teasing the blushing and embarrassed mess that is Blackwall.
"Fennic!" Blackwall growls as I snicker and we continue our merry band of chatting….
Loudly, the drunkards and those celebrating cheer as I glance at Bull and elbow him, catching his attention as he lowers his head to hear me better, through the commotion of the pub.
"You need to go see Dorian," I bring up.
"Why?" Bull frowns.
"He's upset and I think you can cheer him up," I exclaim.
"I'll see what I can do…" Smirking, Bull stands.
"Bull! I call out making him raise a brow.
"Do it with moderation," I tell him. Focused, he smirks and nods, leaving the party as I take the sip of my drink and decide to head off, head back home to bed. Or so I thought, puzzled, I hear the sound of giggling and the rustle of leafs, making me frown as the bright beam of the sun rays greet me and I turn to the source to find a grinning Robin and the boy from before happily chatting.
"Auntie! Auntie!" Calmly, I turn to kneel down as Robin and the boy from the party approach.
"You're the mage speaker," Innocently, the boy approaches me.
"Yeah, sadly," I chuckle lightly.
"Mother said you'd be scary, you're tattoos are very pretty the ritual was painful though wasn't it? I' sorry…a ritual long forgotten only scraps remained and created this a part from its original purpose," Blinking, I frown at the boys cryptic words.
"I'm Kieran, Robin told me all about you, you're not scary you're pretty," Politely, Kieran smiles at me.
"Huh, thanks. Most people think I'm the most frightening thing in the world," I tell him.
"Mother says they wold think the same thing about me if they knew, father says they would think about me being some powerful great being, he calls it badass…" Kieran trails off.
"I see, no problem Kieran I just hope Robin is pushing you about, they tend to enjoy bossing others around when playing," I joke lightly.
"Auntie!" Robin whines as I smirk playfully rustling their hair.
"Just play nice!" I remind Robin.
"We will, we were just about to play hide and seek!" Robin smiles.
"Then go have fun, don't do anything I would do," I warn the two who run off as I hear the sound of footsteps making me turn to…
"So you're the newest advisor to our group, Morrigan right?" I turn to the gothic looking woman.
"Indeed I am and you must be the famous mage speaker Fennic…" Morrigan smirks.
"Please don't, I've had enough of that," I grumble earning a dry chuckle form the woman.
"I'm glad to see my son playing along with your daughter; they seem fond of one another…" Morrigan points out.
"Oh she isn't my daughter, I'm her aunt but yeah it's good to see Robin around people her age, its rare due to her constant travels," I correct her.
"The same can be said for my son…" Fondly, the pair of us stare out at the gardens at the grinning children playing with one another.
"You don't look like you had a kid fair play," I smirk.
"Heh, thank you. But why would you? I take great pain to not let my own reputation affect him in any way. To most in the Imperial Court he is a simply quiet and well-spoken lad. Perhaps the heir of some distant family. But he goes where I go. Worry not, Kieran is but a curious boy but seldom troublesome," Morrigan assures me.
"Where's his father?" I ask curious.
"His father helped raise Kieran for a time, trained him even but events have conspired him to take him elsewhere. So 'tis but the two of us," Morrigan reveals.
"He seems like a good man, you raised him well," I praise.
"But not the sort one might expect a woman like me to raise," Morrigan smiles sadly.
"Not really no. You seem knowledgeable and beyond your years," I shrug.
"I thank you or the flattery but no son of mine would be raised in a marsh bereft of contact with the outside world. His future will be difficult enough without adding to my burden," Morrigan sighs.
"Don't say that. Just cause he's the kid of the hero of Fereldan doesn't mean a thing," I dismiss.
"You know?" Morrigan is surprised at my nod.
"I…I have a...friend Zevran," I begin nervously.
"Zevran you know of him or are you one of his…" Morrigan trials off from my conflicted shrug recalling our last chat leading to me decking him in the face and walking out, it was a good thing we had but he had to ruin it.
"Eh we were…friends of sorts but still. He often spoke to me of his travels…" I shrug.
"Strange, he must have been fond of you to continue your relations," Morrigan notes.
"Indeed he was it was quite annoying and confusing here I thought it would be a one night but nope, he seemed to have wanted more, found me intriguing and fascinating…" I smirk at the memory.
"So did you leave?" Morrigan enquires.
"Indeed I did. I do not have time for such fleeting fancies not now anywhere, if we need one another a simple raven will do and he will come running," Smugly, I proclaim.
"Such confidence…" Morrigan raises a brow.
"No not confidence, such fact…so tell me how did things turn out after the blight?" I enquire curious.
"After…we…we became close closer than I ever thought possible. When I left he pursued me, he demanded to see me it was amusing…" Morrigan smiles fondly at the moment.
"But still have you spoken to Leliana…?" I probe interested.
"I'm afraid not she is still bitter over…" Morrigan exclaims, her tone neutral.
"Being in love with the Hero," I finish.
"You know…?" She raises a brow.
"Eh…I have my connections…" Smugly, I smirk as I stand deciding to leave Morrigan who goes to help Kieran study as I decide to head off to rest…
"Madam Sir Dorian needs on your aid…"
"I understand that but…"Leliana sighs.
"I'm sorry, my lady, these are from lord Dorian he insisted your aid in finding her…"
"What did Morrigan say? Leliana cuts off her scout startling the scout.
"Oh um well…She scowled, and admitted that Kieran chose the gown," Dumbly, the scout replies.
"I knew it! Red velvet. The boy has wonderful taste, just like his father," Leliana smugly smirks victorious.
"Oh, she also said to tell you to stay away from him. You are...a bad influence, so back to the other matter. Dorian wishes you to use your spies to find someone…"
"I know but still we must ask-"
"Hope I'm interrupting…" Smirking, I intervene.
"Yes you are," Leliana confirms smiling playfully.
"Good to know," I sit down legs on her desk making her sigh, rolling her eyes at my confident antics.
"Leave us," She dismisses the scout.
"Yes mam…" The scout bows and leaves us.
"What is it?" Leliana enquires.
"Just curious how you feel with Morrigan and her kid about," Simply, I shrug feeling nosy.
"I'm fine," She frowns.
"Are you? That kid is the hero's kid, the hero you-"
"Are you shoving this in my face?" Leliana scowl interrupts me as I simply shrug, not deterred by it.
"Not really no. just stating how it is…" I shrug.
"Fine I am annoyed but it's not the child's fault. I have gotten over it, it was hard but I'm fine now even though it has nothing to do with you…" Leliana confesses.
"Yeah, I don't know how to respond to that," I shrug.
"I must admit back to Morrigan. She's changed. She used to be so…disagreeable. Cruel. She said things just to hurt people, I never saw what he did but all he kept saying was she was in pain and he could see it and wanted to help, even I a chantry nun at the time didn't have the patience for her but he did. That conversation you overheard, we went shopping once my way of a peace treaty, he came with us and I just watched as Morrigan detested the trip only finding amusement now and again from how animated he was about fashion and how pretty she would look in this dress, this attire, he was all over her, praising her, I felt like a third wheel, I sort of envied her in that sense she did nothing, but he was all over her, feeding her the compliments I so desired to hear from his lips….but now. The sharp edges have worn away, his influence most likely and perhaps it was Kieran's too. He seems so normal like any other boy and so polite. Not that I was expecting anything else, I mean…never mind," Leliana confesses to me as I nod stoically listening, eager to hear.
"Fennic do you have the letters?" Leliana questions as I nod.
"Yeah he basically said about the wicked eyes and ball thing as well as the search of red lyrium," I shrug.
"Where's the letter?" She frowns.
"Letter?" I question.
"Yes, I thought…"
"Sorry no. Just write it down yourself," I shrug as she sighs and complies writing down my words as I then turn to leave, only then for the harsh slam of the door to make us turn to the heavying frantic Meredith.
"Meredith what's wrong?" I demand form her.
"It's commander Cullen mam he's having a relapse!" Meredith cries as Leliana and I turn concerned.
"Shit!" I growl shoving her to the side as I run out of the door, desperately searching for Cass only for my eyes to widen when seeing her and Cullen screaming at each other as the training troops now still in their regime, watch as Eve gasps, taking notice of the rising tension.
"Just stop bothering me! I'm fine, I just…one piece, one…one…I need it!"
"No you don't…"
"You know nothing!" Roaring, Cullen raises his fist, anger flaring in his eyes as Cassandra prepares to defend herself. "Eve, the wooden case pass me it!" I order as nervously Eve nods, not sure what to do.
"Oi Cullen!" I call out as his feral state turns to me, his hungry eyes widening at the familiar wooden box in my grasp as I tautly throw it and catch it as he roars and charges at me, terrifying Eve as I throw it high in the air distracting the needy Cullen, reaching out for it only to instead receive my reeled back fist in the face.
Loudly, I hear the crunch of both bone and snow as he collapses to the hard ground, blood splattering to the floor and crimson staining my gauntlet as I catch the box, staring down at the knocked out mess.
"That's the worst I've ever seen him," Breathless, Cassandra whispers worriedly staring down at Cullen as I calmly frown at the fool then glance at the worried Eve, staying b his side, holding him as she clings to him worried.
"Get the mages to tend to his nose," I mutter as Cass nods and hurries over for aid.
"Are you alright?" Eve questions me.
"Hold on," I huff turning to the still curious crowd of recruits and soldiers.
"Oi! Who said you could stop training to gawk!? Get back to work you lousy ingrates!" I roar at the terrified troops who bow their head and murmur, resuming their training routine as I then turn to Eve.
"Peachy, on the plus side hand isn't broken then again I didn't use my lyrium," I note mostly to myself as healers arrive, tending to Cullen, noting them giving me dirty looks and I follow the worried Eve to his chambers, leaning against the wall, I watch them tend to him as I glance at the still silent Eve, the question still lingering in my mind.
"You think you can handle this?" I question snapping Eve from her thoughts she turns to me puzzled.
"Handle what?" She frowns.
"Him, this is the worst we've seen him. Most likely from Cassandra not being subtle in her spying…" I mutter.
"Wait you spy on him?" Eve frowns.
"I have to with his condition dipshit. You're not weak if you walk away. You got enough to handle from the world, if you can't help Cullen then don't get involved simple as that…relationships...they...they are meant to help learn and fix one another, if you wish to establish a friendship with blondie you have to take his lyrium addiction and help him through it, through the good times and the bad, while he has to handle your whole herald thing. If you can't help him there's no point in being a relationship, continuing when you think you can't help him is futile and will only cause long term damage to the pair of you…" I explain to Eve, her eyes widening in realization of the reality of the situation and the moral panic created that Leliana and Josephine will have to deal with.
"Fennic…thanks…" Grateful, Eve bows her head as I roll my eyes.
"Whatever…"